Fiery tanker truck crash leaves driver dead, closes both directions of NJ

One person was killed when a fuel tanker caught fire after an accident on the New Jersey Turnpike in Kearny on Wednesday afternoon, the State Police said.

Footage shows the tanker truck on its side and in flames, with smoke billowing into a huge thick, black cloud and spread over what looks like the length of several fire trucks, or more than 100 feet. The fire was just past Exit 15W near milepost 110 in Kearny, and state police say the northbound western spur of the turnpike has been shut down at Route 280.

Shortly before 5 p.m., the fire was put out with the assistance of Newark Airport foam trucks, but Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Williams said he expected the northbound lanes to remain closed at least through rush hour. The driver of the SUV was taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons, and the tanker driver was unaccounted for.

After being struck, the truck rolled over onto the right hand shoulder of the road, where it became fully engulfed in flames, Flynn said.

Two travel lanes were shuttered, and the fire was extinguished about an hour later.

A mattress and a box spring were visible near where the accident occurred.